What Happened
FBI Director Kash Patel released a roughly two-minute promotional video on X on May 4, 2026, discussing the FBI's efforts to combat fraud. The video used the instrumental version of the Beastie Boys' 'Sabotage' and featured footage interspersed with what appeared to be authentic footage of FBI agents at work. The video received roughly half a million views by Tuesday.
AI Recreation Evidence
NPR's analysis identified at least six clips in the FBI video that were frame-by-frame recreations of shots from the original 'Sabotage' music video directed by Spike Jonze. The recreated clips featured vehicles, people and buildings similar to the original, but with small differences characteristic of AI generation. Examples include a spinning car missing grilles visible in the original footage, and a person jumping roof-to-roof where a telephone line appears to pass through the character's head.
Expert Analysis
Independent experts reviewed the video for NPR and agreed the clips were likely generated by AI. Researchers noted characteristic AI errors including artifacts on the 'No Fraud' license plate, a shrunken driver's arm, and both red and green lights lit simultaneously on a stoplight. Experts believe the AI likely created the videos by taking screenshots or short clips from the original music video and feeding them into an image-to-video model, or by using the original video as training data.
No Comment From Rights Holders
Representatives for director Spike Jonze and the Beastie Boys did not respond to NPR's request for comment. The FBI also declined to provide information about how the video was made.
Pattern in Trump Administration
Using AI to co-opt popular music, movies and memes has been a common tactic in President Trump's second term, even when artists have protested. In October 2025, President Trump posted an AI-generated video of himself set to Kenny Loggins' 'Danger Zone' that Loggins demanded be taken down, though it remains on Trump's Truth Social account. 
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